Feb. 6, 2018, 11:31 a.m.

The Kern River along Highway 178 east of Bakersfield. (Casey Christie / Associated Press)

California is one of 10 states that sued the Trump administration on Tuesday to challenge its decision to suspend the 2015 Clean Water Rule aimed at protecting lakes, rivers, and streams from pollutants.

California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra said the lawsuit alleges the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers acted without authority in suspending the rule, did not provide a rational explanation and did not provide required notice and opportunity for public comment.

The 2015 rule provided a broader definition of waterways to be protected.

In his final floor session before stepping aside for a new leader, Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de León urged his colleagues on Monday to reject the suggestion that lawmakers should be “measured” in their approach to governing.

“This moment is fleeting,” De León said of the term limits era of legislating in Sacramento. “Take advantage of this moment and seize it.”

On Wednesday, state Sen. Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) will take over as leader of the upper house of the California Legislature. De León, who will leave his post in Sacramento at the end of the year due to term limits, had led the Senate since October 2014. He is the first Latino in California history to hold the position.

Mar. 19, 2018, 4:16 p.m.

A lot in the 400 block of East Florence Avenue in Los Angeles was slated for a homeless housing project. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

A California lawmaker wants to make it easier to build homeless housing across the state and is taking aim at Los Angeles.

Legislation from Assemblyman David Chiu (D-San Francisco) would require cities and counties to approve permanent supportive housing projects for homeless residents anywhere housing is allowed under that local government’s zoning rules.

Assembly Bill 2162 is necessary to remove barriers to housing California’s growing homeless population, which now tops 134,000 people, Chiu said. He’s also planning to make changes to the bill that would block policies, like those in Los Angeles, that allow local elected officials to spike homeless housing in their districts if those officials don’t provide explicit support prior to a vote.

Mar. 19, 2018, 2:01 p.m.

Despite pleas from relatives of those killed in the 2015 mass shooting in San Bernardino, the state retirement board on Monday rejected a proposal by California Treasurer John Chiang to consider divesting from retailers who sell assault weapons.

Chiang’s motion was defeated by the Board of Administration for the California Public Employees' Retirement System, or CalPERS, with nine members voting in opposition and three in support. Opponents of the motion said divestment would take away their ability as major investors in retail firms to affect store policies on the sale of assault rifles.

“We obviously have a significant problem in this country,” said board member Bill Slaton. But, he added. “We have found engagement is a better alternative in order for us to accomplish something in this arena.”

Mar. 19, 2018, 4:40 p.m.

President Trump's new attacks over the weekend against the man leading the Russia probe put renewed pressure on California House Republicans already facing a tough reelection campaign.

Trump repeated his characterization of the investigation as a "witch hunt" and for the first time criticized by name Robert S. Mueller III, the former FBI head who is leading the probe into Russia's election meddling and possible collusion with the Trump campaign.

Mar. 16, 2018, 3:55 p.m.

The very mention of Conor Lamb’s name got the crowd of Democrats packed into a Palmdale community center for a congressional debate Thursday night hooting and clapping.

The Pennsylvania Democrat’s apparent upset victory in a U.S. House district that President Trump carried by a large margin in 2016 is giving liberal activists fever dreams of a blue wave that could flip dozens of seats currently held by Republicans.

So the question was posed to the three Democratic candidates looking to oust Republican Rep. Steve Knight this November in a district that Hillary Clinton won in 2016: What lessons does Lamb’s victory offer Democrats?

Chiu said lawmakers have learned from the previous program’s failures and that the new version will provide enough money to help local governments meet key state housing affordability and climate change goals while also adding greater accountability to the spending.

Mar. 16, 2018, 12:05 a.m.

In theory, Democrats hoping to win back congressional control have two of their best shots in California, where two Republicans are retiring from racially diverse districts that have been trending against the GOP.

It's actually a lot more complicated. There are 13 Democrats running to replace Reps. Ed Royce (R-Fullerton) and Darrell Issa (R-Vista) in the 39th and 49th congressional districts, and Democrats are panicked the top-two primary could prevent them from even making the November ballot. When Royce and Issa said they would head to the exits, that invited new candidacies from multiple Republicans, many with more experience than the Democratic contenders.

An attorney and immigrant rights activist is the first person living in the U.S. illegally to be named to a statewide appointment in the nation's most populous state, California’s Senate leader announced Wednesday.

The Senate Rules Committee appointed Lizbeth Mateo to be an advisor on college access and financial aid.

Mateo is well-known for championing protections for people without legal authorization to live in the U.S. who were brought to the country as children. Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de León (D-Los Angeles) framed her appointment as a rebuke of President Trump's immigration policies.